Opposed conical jacket wall rotary combustion chamber



Aug 7, 1951 R. H. GODDARD K 2,563,026

oPPosED coNIcAL JACKET WALL ROTARY coMBUsTloN CHAMBER Filed Aug. 25, 1947 ETHEI? CGODDHR, EXECUT/Pl) ATTORNEY ..Pl l

Patented Aug. 7, 1951 orrosnn ooNIcAL JACKET WALL ROTARY ,-coMBUs'rIoN cHAMBEa Robert H. Goddard, deceased, late of Annapolis,

Md., by Esther C. Goddard, executrix, Worcester, Mass., assigner of one-half to The Daniel and Florence Guggenheim Foundation, New v fYork,.N. Y., a corporation of New York Application'Augu'st 23, 1947,se1-ia1 No. 770,313

This invention relates to rotating Vcombustion chambers of the general type shown in Robert H. Goddard Patent No.' 2;395,114,"iss`ued February 19, 1946 and which are adapted. for use in aircraft of the rocket type. y -Y l f,

In such a combustionl chamber, combustion liquids are supplied at oppositeends of the rotating chamber axis to jacket spaces within ajacket casing surrounding said chamber and rotating therewith. The two liquids are introduced tothe combustion chamber itself near the periphery thereof and adjacent the largest diameter of said chamber.

An important feature of the present invention relates to the provision of a plurality of spirally disposed vanes in each jacket space, by which vanes the combustion liquids are held in close cooling contact with all portions of the combustion chamber walls.

A further feature of the invention relates to the provision of improved constructions for introducing the liquids to the combustion chamber and for eifecting intermingling of said liquids. Special provision is also made for securing uniform feed of the liquids to the jacket spaces and for preventing leakage or loss of the combustion liquids.

The invention further relatesto arrangements and combinations of lparts which will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Preferred forms of the invention are shown in the drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional front elevation of a rotating combustion chamber embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view of certain parts, partly in section and looking in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional front elevation of a modified construction; and

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a further modication of that portion of the structure shown in Fig. l which is seen when looking in the general direction of the arrow A in the upper part of said ligure. f

Referring to Figs. 1 and'2, a combustion chamber C is shown comprising opposed conical chainber walls IU and I I enclosed within a jacket casing I2 which denes jacket spaces S and S separated by an lannular partition I5 which is associated with the opposed and abutting conical peripheral portions oi said chamber walls.

The chamber walls IIJ and II are spaced from the jacket casing I2 by a plurality of spirally curved vanes or partitions 26 and short inter- 1 onm. (c1. 60-44) 2 mediate curved vanes 2I. These partitions not only hold the casing walls I0 and II spaced from the jacket casing I2 but also subdividethe jacket spaces S and S into spirally arranged expanding passages through which the combustion liquids are-fed to continuous annular'spaces` S2 and S3 (Fig. l) at the outer ends of the spiral vanes 2i] and 2 I.

The edge portions 30 and 3I ofthe chamber walls vIll land I I are inwardly offset to receive annular aring rings 32 and 33 having spray openings 35. y 1 v 1 'One of the combustion liquids, as gasoline, is fed through a pipe 40 to an annular member 4I disposed about the axis of the combustion chamber C and provided with an annular series of feed openings 42 (Fig.` 2).

A sleeve 50 is mounted on the tubular extension 5I of the chamber C and is provided with discs 53 and 54 having radial vanes or projections 55 which rotate closely adjacent inwardly flanged portions 56 and 5l of a casing 60, mounted on and centered by the pipe 40. A drain pipe 64 is provided for the casing 6B. A plurality of large feed openings 66 provide communication from the inside of the casing 50 to the jacket space S.

At the opposite end of the combustion chamber, a feed pipe 'Ill and an annular member II provide liquid oxygen, which is delivered to the combustion chamber through the jacket space S. Sealing devices of exactly similar construction are provided and do not require separate description.

A discharge nozzle N is connected to the chamber wall portion II and rotates therewith.

With the construction shown, gasoline under slight pressure is supplied through the pipe 4i) and member 4I to the jacket space S, where the spiral vanes 20 and 2| induce outward ow by centrifugal force. These vanes insure that all portions of the combustion chamber wall ID are effectively cooled by liquid in contact therewith, and that no portions of said wall are left uncovered by liquid. Burning of the chamber wall I 0 is thus eiectively prevented.

Any combustion liquid supplied through the member 4I and not entering the jacket space S is prevented from escaping from the casing 6E! by the discs 53 and 54 and the vanes 55, and any liquid which accumulates in the casing I!) may be v drawn oi through the pipe 64, so that no combustion liquid is Wasted.

The jacket Wall I2 may be reenforced by Wires W, criss-crossed over the surface of the jacket 3 casing and prevented from axial displacement by annular flanges 80.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3, a portion of a spherical rotating combustion chamber is shown, havingaspherical chamber Wall 9i? which takes the place of the double conical walls Il] and I l of Fig. 1. The spherical chamber is surrounded by a jacket casing 9| and has inwardly offset portions 92 connected to the jacket by rings S3 having spray openings 94. A band 195 may be interposed between the plates 94 to stiffen the construction, and a ring SB Amay be added to brace the band 95.

In Fig. 4 a Inodied construction of end plates, as 32 and 33, portion 30a. and jacket casing l2'a are connected by an end plate l having circumferentially extending slots IGI, which slots take the place of the perforations 35. The construction and operu ation is otherwise the same.

Having thus .described the invention and .the advantages thereof, it will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details therein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claim,`but what is claimed is:

A rotated combustion chamber having opposed and-abutting conical chamber Walls increasing in diameter from the opposite and small ends of said chamber to a medial plane, a double conical jacket casing rotating with said combustion chamber and providing two opposed jacket spaces for a liquid fuel and a liquid oxidizer respectively, an annular partition member in said medial is shown in which a chamber Iwall plane and radially interposed between said jacket casing and the abutting conical peripheral portions of said conical chamber Walls and closing the adjacent ends of said jacket spaces, said conical chamber walls having inwardly offset portions adjacent said medial plane but spaced therefrom by the extreme outer edge portions of said Walls, and said conical chamber walls having outwardly-iiaring annular rings connecting said offset Wall portions lto said outer edge portions of said Walls and dening with said outer edge portions ;en outwardly-expanding peripheral mixing area, and-.said annular rings having feed openings therein which are directed into said mixing area, and lmeans to feedliquid fuel and a liquid oxidizer under pressure 'to said jacket spaces and through vsaid feed openings into said mixing area from opposite sides thereof and along intersecting lines.

ESTHER C. GODDARD, Ezrecutri of the Last Will and Testament of Robert 1H. Goddard, Deceased.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,130,124 White Mai. 2, 1915 1,732,761 Marsland 1 Oct. 22, 1929 1,949,429 McGee Mar. 6. 1934: '2,054,162 Macrae 1 Sept. 15, 1936 2,395,114 Goddard Feb. 19, 1946 

